Door housing for locomotive stokers



Jan. 16, 1940. w. 'r. HANNA DOOR HOUSING FOR LOCOMOTIVE STOKERS Original Filed June 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR William Tll empson Hen ma 6 *flm %RNEYS Jan. 16, 1940. w. T. HANNA 2,137,495

- DOOR HOUSING FOR LOCOMOTIVE STOKERS Original Filed June 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l} QINVENTOR William TgompsonHzmna ATTORN EYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I I INVENTOR lillllllllli'lllllli llllb 1 II I ii II!!! William Thompson Hafina M i' T QRNEYS Jan. 16, 1940'. w. T. HANNA DOOR HOUSING FOR LOCOMOTIVE STOKERS Original Filed June 18, 1928 Patented Jan. 16, 1940 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR HOUSING FOR LOOOMOTIVE STOKERS William Thompson Hanna, Cincinnati, Ohio Original application June 18, 1928, Serial No. 286,222. Divided and this application June 11, 1936,;Serial No. 84,612. Renewed July 1, 1939 6 Claims. (01. 110-404) This invention relates to stokers for use on Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the same, locomotives and steamboats. More particularly taken substantially on a line 3-3 of" Figure 1; it relates to a housing member for such stokers as Figure 4 is a side elevation partially in vertical convey coal forwardly from a trough beneath a longitudinal section, showing a stoker of this coal hopper in a tender to the fire-box of a 1000- character co-acting with a locomotive and a 5 motive. In the present invention the housing tender;

embraces the firing opening at the fire-box and Figure 5 is a top plan view of the interior of itself has a hand firing opening. This is a divithe housing of Figure 1; and sion from my co-pending application, Serial Num- Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on, line E--6 10 ber 286,222, filed June 18, 1928, and resulting in of Figure 3. I 10. Patent No. 2,004,001. In the drawings, as shown in Figures 1 to 4,

One of the objects of the invention is to pronumeral l represents the backhead of a locomovide such a fire door housing for use in connective fire-box having a conventional firing opening tion with a stoker of the class described which is 2 within which is located fuel distributing mechaadapted to aid in directing the flow of fuel therenism, generally indicated at it, for distributing 5 through toward the firing opening in such a way fuel over the fire bed. Embracing this opening, as to offset tendency to clog or to create a back and rigidly mounted on the backhead, is a fuel pressure. or fire door housing 3. Connected to the base of Another object of the invention is to provide the housing, and forming a downwardly reara fire door housing of the class described, havwardly projecting extension, is a conduit 4 20 ing a firing opening providing a clear view of through which fuel moves upwardly into housthe condition of the fire bed and the action or ing 3. The extension 4 increases in cross-secmovement of the fuel through the housing, and tional area from its lower to upper extremities, permitting unobstructed use of a shovel, a firing so that fuel moving up through it is constantly rake, or hook, so that the fiow of fuel may be relieved of pressure at its sides (see Figure 3) 25 assisted manually in the case of clogging by and tendency of the fuel to clog while passing foreign material by merely opening the fire door, therethrough is offset. Extending rearwardly and withoutdisplacing, or interfering with the from conduit 4 (Figure 4) is conduit ll, which in operation of any of the stoker mechanism. i turn is connected to the front, end of a hopper t Another object of the invention is to provide a beneath a tender 9. Suitable conveyors i in hop- 30.

fire door housing which houses and supports variper 8, and 5 in conduit 6, serve to move the fuel ous fuel manipulating mechanisms of the stoker forwardly into the housing 3,

and which permits easy access to these parts The connections between hopper 8 and conwhereby the maintenance of the same is greatly duit 6, and between conduit 6 and extension 4, l5 simplified. are of the ball and socket type. The conduit 6,

A further object of the invention is the proin addition, has a sliding joint in the extension 4. vision of a fire door housing for a stoker of this These joints provide a substantially universal type which permits the ready adaption of such joint connection between the conduit 5, hopper 8 a stoker to any locomotive with a minimum of and extension 4 whereby changes in the relative alterations in the stoker design, by virtue of inpositions, or a displacement of the tender from 'cluding all of the components of the stoker; with the locomotive, are accommodated.

the exception of the conduit, conveyor means, As shown in Figure 4, conveyor 7 is'driven by and motive power, in this housing, and by reason a gear i0 which is driven by a shaft H suitably of the wide flexibility in regulation permitted by mounted for rotation on the frame of the trough ,5 these controls therein included. 8 and carrying a gear (not shown) which engages These and other apparent objects and advanthe gear [0. The shaft II has operative engagetages are obtained by the means described in the ment with a steam motor, or other source of following specification and disclosed in the acmotive power, l2, through suitable connection as, companying drawings, wherein: for example, the telescopic shaft I3. The fuel Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of a manipulating means l4 and I5, hereinafter destoker mechanism embodying this invention, scribed, are also driven by motor l2 through taken substantially on a longitudinal center line; shafts 60.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the Referring now to the construction of the houssame, taken substantially on a line 2-2 of Figing 3 and elevating conduit 4, by making the I ure 1;

elevating conduit 4 and the housing 3 in separate pieces I am able to adapt a single size housing, which is relatively expensive to manufacture in different sizes, to difierent sizes and types of locomotives by simply using an extension 3- of the desired length.

The housing 3 chosen to illustrate the invention provides a housing for fuel manipulating means M and i5 designed to improve the stoking efficiency of a stoker. An advantage of such manipulating means'is that they insure the fuel flowing to the distributing means l8 in a regulated stream. 'The manipulating means act upon the column of fuel rising in the housing to spread the fuel and transform it into form relatively thinner than the bulk of the fuel in the conduit 4 and to regulate the presentation of the fuel to the fire-box. In thinning the fuel in this manner, its form is changed as to thickness, or density, consistency, etc., and the fuel reaches the distributing mechanism in a manner and condition conducive to efficient distribution over the fire.

In the particular form shown the fuel manipulating means or conditioning device comprises a pair of tapered rotary vanes or worms i4 and I5 which are suitably journaled in cap plates l6 and 11 forming part of the side walls of the housing and are preferably so positioned relative to the housing and the firing opening as to cause relatively little resistance to the flow of fuel.

To facilitate the fiow of the fuel through the housing 3 and to assist further in the operation of the tapered worms M and 15, the housing 3, Figures 5 and 6, is provided with recesses generally indicated at I II and H2 respectively, formed in either side of the wall of the housing adjacent the backhead l. The recesses HI and H2 have conically shaped concave fuel supporting surfaces H3 and H4 respectively, the surfaces being concentric with surfaces containing the respective peripheries of the vanes 14 and I5. In this way the vanes l4 and [5 are, in effect, recessed in the front wall 36 of the housing 3, and to some extent are removed from the direct path of the fuel as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The surfaces H3 and H4 intersect the surface of the forward wall 3c of the housing 3 to form edges or ledges H5 and H6 respectively, over which the fuel rising from the extension 4 flows into the recesses HI and H2 to be acted on by the worms l4 and i5 respectively as 'Will be hereinafter described. Thus by providing the recesses in the housing the worms are recessed out of the direct line of flow of the fuel up the throat of the housing and so do not interfere with the flow. The fuel, as described hereinafter, simply flows up and is either under mined by the worms or falls over onto them.

In order more effectively to manipulate the fuel in the manner above described, the housing is preferably shaped to further the tendency of the fuel to flow over the edges H5 and H6 into the respective recesses Ill and H2 and into the range of the fuel conditioning and spreading devices l4 and i5. This is accomplished in the present embodiment by slanting the back wall 3d (Figure 1) toward the forward wall of the housing, generally indicated at its, and at the same time increasing the distance between the side walls of the housing 3 to insure the increasing cross-sectional area. This sloping rear wall 3d causes a forward pressure to be exerted on the rising fuel column, causing it to fall forwardly and sidewardly over the edges H5 and H6 into the recesses HI and H2 and into the range of the fuel manipulating elements l4 and 55.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, worms i4 and I5 are shown as tapering toward their unmounted or free ends. With this construction the fuel handling capacity of each worm is greater at its mounted end (where the vane is largest) than at its free end (where the vane is smallest) and so, as fuel moves from the mounted toward the free end of each worm, it is caused to move away from the worms and is delivered over the ledge 3a From the foregoing it is clear that the fuel entering the housing 3 from the extension 4 is acted upon by the devices M and RE which transform the fuel issuing from the extension l into form relatively thinner than the bulk of fuel in the extension 4 and regulate the presenta tion of the fuel over the ledge of spillway 3a from whence it flows to the distributing mechanism i8.

The housing 3 is provided with an opening 30 in the rear side thereof, and embracing this opening is a conventional form of fire door plate 65, upon which may be mounted the usual automatic fire door (not shown), such as, for example, the Franklin Butterfly type. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fire door opening 30 is positioned in the rear wall of the housing 3 in such a way that it is just above and to the rear of the stream of fuel entering the housing 3-from the extension 4 and the lower part of the housing Further, the firing opening 30 is substantially aligned with the firing opening 2 in the backhead l. With this construction and arrangement of the fire door opening, many new and highly advantageous results are obtained. For example, the opening affords a simple means for examination of the flow of fuel from the conduit to extension 4 past the spreading devices 44 and it over the ledge 3a onto the blast chamher it and over the fire bed itself. Further, this arrangement provides easy access to the fuel rising from the extension 4 in the event of-large lumps of fuel or extraneous material clogging the passageway at this point. Thus, with this construction and arrangement I overcome the disadvantage existing in mechanical stokers heretofore used for locomotives, which have not afforded such easy access to the path of the fuel just as it enters the firing opening.

The distributing mechanism comprises a distributor plate 3| and a blast chamber 19, provided with a plurality of high pressure steam jets I91) coming out of a series of fingers I911 arranged in a fan formation and a sheet low pressure blast 22 located below the high. pressure jets lSb along the bases of the fingers Him. The blast chamber 19 is provided with arms ma and i821 which support it and serve as conduits for the passage of the steam thereto.

The distributor plate 3| coacts with the steam blasts to distribute the fuel over the fire bed in an efficient manner. It is made adjustable in position to accommodate it to particular demands. The adjustment is made by a crank shaft 34 connected with a handle 34a. A link 36 connects an arm 35 on the shaft with the plate 3|.

'Crank shaft 3 1 is suitably journaled in bearings on the housing 3.

Referring again to the housing 3, it is provided with means for varying the effective lateral length of the ledge ea, for controlling the flow of fuel passing over said ledge. While this result may be accomplished in various Ways, in the present, illustration I have provided laterally adjustable members 3138, slidably mounted in the side walls of the housing 3 and resting upon the ledge 3a, thereby constituting in effect a continuation of said ledge. The members 31 and 38 may be independently adjusted laterally with respect to the housing so that they not only control the effective length of the ledge 3a, but also move the effective length of said ledge to one side or the other of the firing opening, to direct a greater volume of fuel to the right or to the left sides of the blast chamber l8, as desired. The operating means for these members 31 and 38 comprise levers 39 and 40 (Figure 2) pivotally supported upon pins 4|. and 42, mounted in lugs 3b extending from the housing 3. The levers are arranged to have operating engagement with the members 31 and 38 through pins 43 and 44. The rotating vanes 14 and I5 are driven by suitable gearing (not shown) in gear housings 5| mounted on the bearing caps l6 and H.

In operation of this stoker mechanism, the coal flows from the tender 9 to the trough 8, beneath the deck of the tender, and is transferred therefrom forwardly to the locomotive by the rotation of the conveyors l and 5, the latter delivering the fuel through the extension 4 into the housing 3, whereupon, due to the contours of said housing, the fuel is presented to the rotating vanes l4 and I5 and the further movement of fuel is controlled by the action of the said vanes. The vanes act on the fuel to condition it by spreading, leveling, deflecting and directing it in such a manner that it passes over the ledge 3a in a plurality of laterally moving continuous streams. The fuel, thus directed over the ledge 3a, falls upon and flows over the blast chamber l9 which tends to screen it and distribute it over the fire-bed. The larger lumps of fuel, flowing over the ends of the fingers I9a, are projected over the fire by the high pressure steam jets I91 and the smaller particles are allowed to fall onto the distributor plate 3|, from which they are scattered over the fire by means of the blasts of steam emitted from the low pressure jets 22.

While I have shown and described a particular construction embodying this invention as applied to a locomotive stoker, it is to be understood that the same is for the purpose of illustration only, and that I am not limited to the detailed features thereof, as it is understood that the construction may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a stoke r mechanism having moving fuelconditioning and regulating means, the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance, of a housing having a forward wall adapted to embrace the fuel entrance, having a fuel outlet in said forward wall communicating with said fuel entrance and being approximately coextensive therewith, having a hand-firing opening in its rearward wall substantially aligned with said fuel outlet, having a fuel inlet below said fuel outlet, and having means for supporting and housing the moving fuel-conditioning and regulating means in said housing so that approximately all of the fuel-contacting portions of said conditioning and regulating means lie below said fuel outlet whereby the locomotive may be handstoked and the operation of the fuel-conditioning and regulating means observed without in terfering with the operation of the stoker.

2. In a stoker mechanism having moving fuelmanip'ulating means, the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance in its back wall, of a housing having a forward wall adapted to embrace the fuel entrance, said wall having a fuel outlet adapted to communicate with said fuel entrance and being approximately coextensive therewith, said housing having a hand-firing opening in a rearward wall thereof, substantially aligned with said fuel outlet, said housing hav ing wall portions therein below said outlet adapted to recess the moving fuel-manipulating means, and having a fuel inlet below and to the rear of said recessed portions, and the rearward wall of said housing being slanted forwardly toward said forward wall to give the fuel moving through the housing from said inlet a greater forward component.

3. In a stoke r for a locomotive the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance, of a housing having a forward wall adapted to embrace the fuel entrance, having a fuel outlet in said forward wall communicating with said fuel entrance and being approximately coextensive therewith, having a hand-firing opening in its rearward wall substantially aligned with said fuel outlet, having a fuel inlet at the lower extremities of said forward and rearward walls and below said fuel outlet, the rearward wall of said housing inclining toward said forward wall from said inlet to cause the fuel moving through said housing between said forward and rearward walls from said inlet to change its direction of flow toward said fuel outlet and the side walls diverging upwardly from said fuel inlet to give a cross-sectional area greater than that of said fuel inlet whereby the flow of fuel is directed toward said fuel entrance, and clogging and back-pressure are prevented.

i. In a stoker for a locomotive, the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance in its back wall, of a fuel discharge housing provided with an upwardly extending forward wall adapted to be mounted in juxtaposition to the back wall and fuel entrance and arranged to discharge fuel to said fuel entrance, said housing being provided with a rearward wall extending above said fuel entrance and having a hand-firing opening therein approximately co-extensive with and aligned with said fuel entrance, side walls connecting said forward and rearward walls, said housing having a fuel inlet disposed below said fuel entrance and hand-firing opening to receive fuel moving in an upward direction between the side walls and the said forward and rearward walls and discharging to said fuel entrance, and said hand-firing opening lying above and overlooking such fuel movement, whereby the fire box may be hand-stoked through said hand-firing opening and the fuel movement observed without interfering with the movement of fuel from said inlet through said fuel entrance.

5. In a stoker for a locomotive, the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance in its back wall, of a housing having a forward wall provided with a fuel outlet adapted to communicate with the fuel entrance, having a rearward wall provided with a hand-firing opening substantially aligned with said fuel outlet, having a fuel inlet disposed in a plane below said fuel outlet, and having a fuel passageway extending in an upward direction from said fuel inlet to said fuel outlet on the median line of said housing and between said forward and rearward walls,

so that the movement of the fuel as it leaves the passageway and emerges through said outlet may be readily observed through said hand-firing opening.

6. In a stcker for a locomotive, the combination with a firebox having a fuel entrance in its back wall, of a fuel housing provided with an upwardly extending forward wall having a fuel outlet adapted to communicate with the fuel entrance and mounted in juxtaposition to the back wall so as to enable fuel passing through said outlet to move into said entrance, said housing being provided with a rearward Wall extending above said outlet, side walls connecting said forward and rearward Walls, said housing having a fuel inlet disposed below said fuel outlet to receive fuel moving in an upward direction from said fuel inlet and through a fuel passageway disposed on the median line of said housing and. between said forward and rearward walls and said side walls and subsequently discharging through said outlet, said rearward Wall having a hand-firing opening therein approximately coextensive with and aligned with said fuel entrance and lying above and overlooking the fuel moving through said passageway toward and through said outlet whereby the firebox may be hand-stoked through said hand-firing opening, and the said movement of the fuel readily observed without interfering with its flow through the housing. 7 WILLIAM THOMPSON HANNA. 

